Among the Arab women, according to Kocher, homosexual practices are rare, though very common among Arab men.  In Egypt, however, according to Godard, Kocher, and others, it is almost fashionable, and every woman in the harem has a “friend.”  In Turkey homosexuality is sometimes said to be rare among women.  But it would appear to be found in the harems and women’s baths of Turkey, as well as of Islam generally.  Brantome in the sixteenth century referred to the Lesbianism of Turkish women at the baths, and Leo Africanus in the same century mentioned the tribadism of Moorish women and the formal organization of tribadic prostitution in Fez.  There was an Osmanli Sapphic poetess, Mihiri, whose grave is at Amasia, and Vambery and Achestorides agree as to the prevalence of feminine homosexuality in Turkey.[152] Among the negroes and mulattoes of French creole countries, according to Corre, homosexuality is very common.  “I know a lady of great beauty,” he remarks, “a stranger in Guadalupe and the mother of a family, who is obliged to stay away from the markets and certain shops because of the excessive admiration of mulatto women and negresses, and the impudent invitations which they dare to address to her."[153] He refers to several cases of more or less violent sexual attempts by women on young colored girls of 12 or 14, and observes that such attempts by men on children of their own sex are much rarer.

In China (according to Matignon) and in Cochin China (according to Lorion) homosexuality does not appear to be common among women.  In India, however, it is probably as prevalent among women as it certainly is among men.

In the first edition of this Study I quoted the opinion of Dr. Buchanan, then Superintendant of the Central Gaol of Bengal at Bhagalpur, who informed me that he had never come across a case and that his head-gaoler had never heard of such a thing in twenty-five years’ experience.  Another officer in the Indian Medical Service assures me, however, that there cannot be the least doubt as to the frequency of homosexuality among women in India, either inside or outside gaols.  I am indebted to him for the following notes on this point:—­

“That homosexual relationships are common enough among Indian women is evidenced by the fact that the Hindustani language has five words to denote the tribade:  (1) dugana, (2) zanakhe, (3) sa’tar, (4) chapathai, and (5) chapatbaz.  The modus operandi is generally what Martial calls geminos committere cunnos, but sometimes a phallus, called saburah, is employed.  The act itself is called chapat or chapti, and the Hindustani poets, Nazir, Rangin, Jan S’aheb, treat of Lesbian love very extensively and sometimes very crudely.  Jan S’aheb, a woman poet, sings to the effect that intercourse with a woman by means of a phallus is to be preferred to the satisfaction offered by a male lover.  The